Optical Bearing Strength Autonomous Measurement System Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Topic No.: N091-085 Topic Title: Optical Bearing Strength Autonomous Measurement System Proposal No.: N091-085-0197 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Photonic Systems Division 20600 Gramercy Place, Bldg. 100 Torrance, California 90501 Contact: Sergey Sandomirsky Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the Navy need for a small, self-contained geotechnical measurement system to help amphibious operations planners collect adequate knowledge of soil strength in landing areas, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Optical Bearing Strength Autonomous Measurement (OBSAM) System. This system is based on a new laser sensor, that measures track depth imprinted in a shallow water seafloor and in a beach with a special loaded wheel. The track depth is correlated with cone index. The innovations in the distance sensor and packaging design enable the OBSAM system, driven by an unmanned ground robotic platform, to provide direct quantitative measurement of bearing strength with high spatial resolution both in subaerial and submerged areas. As a result, this system offers autonomous operation without participation of human operators, continuous measurement of soil strength parameters compatible with the NRMM II trafficability model, and applicability throughout an entire beach profile, which directly addresses the Oceanographer of the Navy acquisition program requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the OBSAM system prototype in laboratory and field experiments. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a fully functional prototype ready for testing on Navy sites. Benefits: The proposed OBSAM system, when fully developed, will allow autonomous, expedited, and precise measurement and mapping of soil bearing strength in littoral areas, including shallow water and subaerial areas. These advantageous features make the OBSAM system beneficial for the Navy, Marines, and SOCOM in planning amphibious operations. It will be also commercially attractive to construction industry sectors involved in commercial and residential development in shore areas. The data provided by the OBSAM system can be used as ground truth for calibration of remote sensing methods developed for terrain inspection. Return